NAB AFL Rising Star: round 15By Jennifer Witham
9:09 AM Tue 15 July, 2008
RICHMOND forward Jack Riewoldt has the unique opportunity of emulating his cousin Nick's feat of claiming the NAB AFL Rising Star award in his second season, following the young Tiger's round 15 nomination.
Riewoldt, 19, booted five goals in the Tigers' 77-point win over West Coast at Subiaco on Sunday, which was his biggest bag as an AFL player.
Riewoldt said he enjoyed the role he played during the weekend's match, and praised the team for giving him consistent delivery.
"I had a good time out there, a lot of fun, and I just enjoyed playing with all of the guys," he told afl.com.au.
"I was against Adam Hunter for most of the day, but our midfield dominance really helped us out, and it led to me kicking five and Nathan Brown kicking four and Mitch Morton three.
"Our clearance work really helped out the whole side, and it helped us out having more inside 50s than them."
Riewoldt has played 19 senior games in total – 11 of which have come this year – and credits Coburg coach Jade Rawlings as the biggest influence on his improvement so far.
He also said gaining a sense of solidity as a senior player has helped his form, as he doesn't worry as much about getting a run in the firsts.
"This year, I've had two stints in the seniors where I've played eight games in the first stint, and then I went back to Coburg for a week and then came back in," he said.
"It's a bit more settling to know, coming into the weekend, that I'm going to be playing in the seniors and not being hesitant about it.
"It's good that have that stability."
Cousin Nick won the NAB AFL Rising Star in 2002 in what was his second season after being drafted in 2000.
Riewoldt, who found his way to Punt Road via the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, now has an opportunity to do the same following his nomination, although he doesn't rate his chances.
"I'm not really too fussed on individual recognition. It's nice to be rewarded, but you'd do anything for the team to win," he said.
"I'm just happy that we're winning games at the moment, and I'm really enjoying playing footy with the younger guys at the club."
The cousins see each other more outside the season than during, but the younger Riewoldt maintains their lack of socialising during the home-and-away calendar does not indicate a heavy competition.
"I don't think there's any rivalry between us," he said.
"We're pretty individual people, and we get along pretty well and are pretty close.
"During the season we don't talk a lot, but out of season we generally catch up and talk a fair bit on the phone.
"When we get together, we don't talk about footy – we just talk about life, really."
Riewoldt moved from his family home in Tasmania to take up his role at Richmond, and is enjoying the opportunity to live on the "mainland" where he believes he has made a comfortable base.
"I'm pretty well adjusted. I've got a house over here now and I'm enjoying living here," he said.
"The first six months was hard, but I've settled and I'm really enjoying my time here. My girlfriend has moved over from Tassie as well.
"I've got a lot of things going for me here. Nick lives down the road and it's an easy flight for mum and dad to come over and see us."
Riewoldt joins Bachar Houli (Essendon), Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs), Rhys Palmer (Fremantle), Kieren Jack (Sydney), Ben McKinley (West Coast), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Austin Wonaeamirri (Melbourne), Kurt Tippett (Adelaide), Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle), Nathan Brown (Collingwood), Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton), Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Jarryd Morton (Hawthorn) and Colin Garland (Melbourne) as contenders for this year's prize.
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